forgiveness

1996-04-26·Sermon·Matthew 18:21-35

FORGIVENESS
APRIL 25-26, 1996
TULSA, OKLAHOMA
JOHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

SCRIPTURE
FrrRST LESSON JEREMIAH 31:31-34
SeEconD Lesson LUKE 6:37-42

IN TERRY ANDERSON'’S MEMOIRS OF HIS

Macs oe ee Cnad
SEVEN YEARS IN CAPTIVITY AS A HOSTAGE, —
SERRE RE ERE
DENCAE=—EEONS, THERE IS A WONDERFUL
eee Se

ONGOING ACCOUNT OF HIG RETURN TO HIS
ne meerrcsres ca] ES
rarta.| AFTER FOUR MOfTHS OF CAPTIVITY,

DURING WHICH TIME HE WAS EITHER ALONE OR
__eeeeee

WITH A FEW OTHER PRISONERS, | CHAINED

or Pagia tr -
OFTEN TO A COT IN A SERIES OF DARK, DAMP

——o—E

, \HE BEGAN TO
————-

snee aor

THINK A LOT ABOUT GQD_AND FAITH AND

rooms | oF TEN BLIENDFOLDI

med

CHURCH. \ AMone THE FEW OTHERS&.ARE TWO
mnenintie! —— oo

t plostey es

(ccenay| THE REVERE ~BEN_WE TR, A

set
PRESBYTERIAN PASTOR CATHOLIC

PRIEST, FATHER MARTIN Jenko.\ WHEN

ANDERSON REALIZES JENKO IS A PRIEST, HE
esas

ASKS HIS CAPTORS FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF

SEEING HIM PRIVATELY TO MAKE HIS
CONFESSION. s9e° :
f
court. lub _
by oe
HIS REQUEST FOR PRIVACY IS HONORED /AND a

—

SUDDENLY ANDERSON AND FATHER JENKO FIND

THEMSELVES ALONE.

_—— “CAUTIOUSLY, I RAISE MY BLINDFOLD.

FATHER JENKO, A WHITE-HAIRED MAN WITH A
FULL BEARD AND A GENTLE SMILE, IS
SITTING cross-Leccen. | WE CLASP HANDS.

"I'm MARTIN JENKO.’

———

"Hr, FATHER. I'm TERRY ANDERSON.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. | It's BEEN
A VERY LONG TIME SINCE I SAID
CONFESSION. "

"IT DOESN'T warren. | JUST GO AHEAD.

HE NODS IN ENCOURAGEMENT.”

FOR TWENTY MINUTES THEY TALK ABOUT
SE yee
—_—

ER rr ere
ANDERSON LEAVING THE CHURCH YEARS

ABOUT THE TIME HE WAS AN

posed nite

AGNOSTIC @BUT STILL FELT LIKE A

separe— |

DIVORCE. | MOSTLY,

CATHOLIC,\ ABOUT HI

FATHER JENKO JUST LISTENS AND OFFERS HIM

pn eee =

ASSURANCES.

eer

ANDERSON REFLECTS ON THE
aa

EXPERIENCE. ("For A CATHOLIC, RITUAL

CONFESSION, OR THE SACRAMENT OF

RECONCILIATION -- AS IT IS CALLED NOW,

IS AN EMOTIONAL CEREMONY, NO MATTER HOW
INFORMAL THE SETTING. | THIS WAS MY FIRST
CONFESSION IN TWENTY-FOUR YEARS, MY
FIRST FORMAL STEP BACK INTO THE CHURCH.
I'D SPENT MONTHS WRESTLING WITH MYSELF,
MONTHS LYING CHAINED TO A COT WITH
NOTHING TO DO BUT EXAMINE MYSELF, STUDY
THE BIBLE, AND TRY TO DEAL, ALONE, WITH
MY ANGER, FRUSTRATION, ReWORSE.| THIS
SMILING, SOFT-SPOKEN PRIEST, ALSO A
HOSTAGE, DRESSED LIKE ME IN WHITE COTTON
SHORTS AND T-SHIRT, FRIGHTENED IN HIS
OWN PAIN AND ANGER, RECEIVED THE FULL
FLOOD OF MY EMOTIONS, GUILT, AND
CONCERNS, RETURNING WARMTH, LOVE, AND

UNDERSTANDING.

“BY THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION,

THE BARE FLOOR AROUND US IS LITTERED

0
WITH CRUMPLED TISSUES. T HE AND I ARE

cryin. | FINALLY I KNEEL BESIDE HIM.
"FATHER, FORGIVE ME, FOR I HAVE SINNED
IN WORD AND THOUGHT, IN WHAT I HAVE DONE

AND WHAT I HAVE NOT DONE.

“HE RESTS HIS RIGHT HAND LIGHTLY ON
MY HEAD, ‘IN THE NAME OF A GENTLE,
LOVING GOD, YOU ARE rorezven. "| HE PULLS
MY HEAD GENTLY TO HIS SHOULDER AND HUGS
ME. WE SIT BACK AND LOOK AT EACH OTHER.
IN A FEW MOMENTS, WE HEAR THE GUARD
TURNING THE LOCK ON THE DOOR AND WE PULL
OUR BLINDFOLDS DOWN OVER OUR EYES."

[DEN oF Lrons, Pp. 97/98]

WHAT A REMARKABLE EXCHANGE --
Berit a og

REMARKABLE THAT AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT,

NOT KNOWING WHEN HE WOULD EVER BE FREE,
Sa RS
NOT KNOWING WHETHER HE WOULD LIVE OR
ee Se

pre),
aa

WHAT TERRY ANDERSON WANTED MOST,
NEEDED wiv. a TO HEAR THE ANCIENT
Ss caren T di

ASSURANCE OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS.
See ee fd eae |

REMARKABLE ALSO THAT THIS PRIEST,»

HIMSELF SUBJECT TO THE SAME THREAT AND
ee —_ ae

UNCERTAINTY | SEPARATED FROM ALL. THE
Retieseen ts

PARAPHERNALIA OF HIS _ECCLESTASTICAL

orrice| SITTING IN HIS SHORTS AND [-

suet, COULD STILL PRESUME TO SAY THOSE
W

ASTONISHING WORDS. . . IN THE NAME OF A

GENTLE, LOVING GOD, YOU ARE FORGIVEN."

IT IS EITHER THE MOST PREPOSTEROUS

Laeieiemmenenatl _—_—_=_ "=
-- OR THE MOST MAGNIFICENT -- MOMENT IN

_ dewman? ;
\eaient

a1 pers pa rer)
A ad = |

espn sh

_
afin Te ‘

* seer F, THE
~ er " ) RESPONSE (PRAISE YE THE LORD. THE
N VP) LorD’S NAME WE PRAISE! «ZF THERE WAS
x © A ae

[a (oe EVER A MOMENT TO JUMP_UP AND CHEER, furs te y)

THROW YOUR HAT IN THE AIR AND_DANCE IN
panes <=

SST ce

we -_
THE AISLES. | THE GOOD NEWS...
aero

7 |
In Jesus CHRIST WE ARE FORGIVEN, IS
Sa et

<< SURELY IT.
SURELY.

THIS IS A SERMON ON THE TOPIC OF

rorcrveness. \| Ir GROWS OUT OF THE TEXT.
— - ee

IT ALSO GROWS OUT OF AN ONGOING
CMY
comMi@smesssten I HAVE WITH DR. THOMAS
—
SCHEMPER, DIRECTOR OF THE LORENE
SEI

¢€
Reeweect_ COUNSELING Centre| Dr.

SCHEMPER IS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND
EE es
—

G nee Chris G4 CL. ¢

Hy Cs -

A ee AND / WHILE- THESSEEMOR Is

Nor iD HIM “

ACCOUNTABLE FQ oo BOTH TOM AND

MINE aub=vou"MgSsy

I B@XREGARD THE TOPIC OF FORGIVENESS AS
rae

A CRITICAL ONE, {BOTH IN TERMS OF THE

ESSENTIAL MEANING.OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

AND ALSO IN TERMS OF HUMAN
Ves bos
RELATIONSHIP

A TOPIC GERMANE TO OUR
s TRIIUAL LIVES, AND ALSO TO THE

eee

EXHILARATION AND AGONY 0 Se Nil aS

a ~ CALL OF THEN, OF <a.

vs wes

THE FIRST muexzoN. » AT LEAST

THEOLOGICALLY, ol couazven’ sun FOR WHAT? 2 thease

IN THE Lorp'sS PRAYER WE PRESBYTERIANS
secs Se

sav("ronaxve US OUR pests..." Most
RY tm,

OTHER CHURCHES SAY "TRESPASSES."

ee EEE
SOMEONE QUIPPED THAT PRESBYTERIANS ALONE
en i reiemienniieenssininnecs

vw Aw ~% "
SAY DEBTS RATHER THAN TRESPASSES BECAUSE

ere ow
permneger{ PreseyrERzANs WOULD RATHER

HAVE THEIR DEBTS PAID \ran THEIR SINS
ial as = eee

FORGIVEN.

eet

WE'RE NOT TERRIBLY COMFORTABLE WITH
cht ue
THE CONCEPT OF SIN. — 6 tpe wm thve oot 4 a

GARRISON KEILLOR WROTE A FUNNY
aS

4
ESSAY ON\"THE CURRENT CRISIS i REMORSE"

IN WHICH HE TARGETED A_ HYPOTHETICAL OCC(usA 2)

MAJOR PROTESTANT DENOMINATION FOR
nessa

DESECRATING THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION BY

REMOVING FROM IT ALL GUILT OR GUILT-

Pe BEE I,

ORIENTED REFERENCES: ("Loro, WE APPROACH

THY THRONE OF GRACE, HAVING COMMITTED
een |

acts, | WHICH WE DO HEARTILY ACKNOWLEDGE,

MUST BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEE TO

unpensrann NEVERTHELESS WE DO BESEECH

< SY -
ican "

THEE TO POSTPONE JUDGMENT AND TO GIVEN
THY FAITHFUL SERVANTS THE BENEFIT OF THE
DOUBT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE ARE ABLE TO
ANSWER ALL THY QUESTIONS FULLY AND CLEAR
OUR REPUTATIONS IN HEAVEN." [We ARE

STILL MaRRIED, P. 24]

FORGIVEN FOR WHAT? \; SUPPOSE THE
eT

THEOLOGICAL, LITURGICAL QUESTION WE

MINISTERS ARE ASKED MORE THAN ANY OTHER

HAS TO DO WITH CONFESSION - THE PRAYER
| ee aeaieineiamina a

SRR oe

——

Te
OF CONFESSION IN worsuae. \ bry I HAVE

TO CONFESS TO THINGS I DON'T THINK I DID
-

LAST WEEK? | IT WAS A VERY BUSY week. | I

DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMMIT ANY

eet

SINS. [\mavee SOMEONE WAS MEAN TO THEIR

NEIGHBORS, \ GARRDH.. HOS , AND
ba eee =, cntemeel

EXPLOITED THE ENVIRONMENT, owe
Pie SWUM,

Wovn ahi Watt _warfwe ;.
presen N- Greed Lu a thr

(

Way Stim Wer opps th pom

OPPRESSED; —IHEPUOR, poe I COULD

MANAGE WAS TO GET TO WORK ON TIME AND

GRAB A SANDWICH IN THE EVENING.

a po entrees meen

GENERALLY, OUR aT OF
Ss en a iad
FORGIVENESS, 19 MECHANIC i Do SOMETHING

WRONG: | SAY YOU'RE SORRY, GET FORGIVEN.

fare nen arma cm ge

AND IF THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO THIS
BUSINESS, THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION IS AN
<1 Geter

EMPTY RITUAL THERE IS, OF CQURSE, MORE

fee

THAN THAT.| OUR THEOLOGY BEGINS WITH THE

ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN
— pau”. “eae

Gop AND cunseuves,( 4 GAP BETWEEN WHAT

GoD WANTS US TO BECOME, AND WHAT WE

ACTUALLY ane) GAP BETWEEN OUR
anita =———)

POTENTIAL AND OUR REALITY. | ano our

DT Ae

THEOLOGY ASSUMES THAT THE SEPARATION

GR ence ialiniataieaiaiiaialaitaiiias

BETWEEN GOD AND OURSELVES 15 REFLECTED

Qe eer Gere et

IN A STATE OF SEPARATION AND ALIENATION,
i ee

AND SOMETIMES _ HOSTILITY TOWARD OTHER

“OY
PEOPLE.\\ THE TERM FOR THE GAP IS SIN.
“ss

It's NOT AS IF WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE
Sree aay

ba cael

DOES A LOT OF BAD rurNes,| A LOT OF

LITTLE SINS EVERY weex. \ WHAT WE_DO
laa

BELIEVE IS THAT EACH OF US IS INVOLVED

bs ea A a ne te ee tee

IN THIS ca| aN EACH OF US DOES HAVE A

PART IN THIS HUMAN CONDITION \\ BuT MOST
_oS

ree

OF ALL, WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THAT IT IS
See
THE NATURE OF Gop TO BE M MERCIFUL AND

eee \\
KIND AND FOR \ ran Is

FORGTIV, ' FORE WE $6 AROUND TO

SINNING,| THAT GOD'S MERCY AND KINDNESS
~ Git

AND GRACE AND FORGIVENESS ARE PRECISELY

WHAT MAKES US AWARE OF OUR SHORTCOMINGS,

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN GoD! $s HOPES FOR US
eS

we"

actval ity

AND THE ACEDWETY OF OUR Lives /7/

BELIEVE 1S [THAT IT 1s GOD'S FORGIVENESS °
_ joao od

THAT MAKES IT NECESSARY FOR US TO ASK.

BEES Sorte

FOR r1, \conress OUR NEED FOR [T.
= Peal wee:

Daneel

LUKE REPORTS THAT JESUS SAID IT
emrenine aa sores

PLAINLY AND srupLy, |" FORGIVE AND YOU

WILL BE rorcrven."| IT FOLLOWS THOSE

WONDERFUL AND ENIGMATIC WORDS OF HIS

| a all

ABOUT LOVING YOUR ENEMY favo TURNING THE

OTHER cHEEK, \woRDS AND IDEAS WHICH
Seer

SIGNAL A WHOLE NEW CODE OF PERSONAL

BEHAVIOR BASED NOT ON RETALIATION AND (c eee,
REVENGE, RECIPROCAL, MORALITY, | Bur

ore oa

INSTEAD OF MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.

IT 1S THERE, fr HIS RELIGIOUS
Cee TE cents cain

TRADITION, AND OURS, FROM THE BEGINNING.

—

PRIMITIVE RELIGION FOCUSED ON Gop’s /

NaRarricihdaemrnateeiiaten :
ieee ere ae fl

13 Aaa cute yf

AL quidem rule a

FAs

POWER AND MYSTERY.]| THE GENIUS OF

Wier

JUDAISM WAS IN PERCEIVING THAT Gop IS

Patt}, ieee,

ESSENTIALLY mercrruL, | THAT WHEN Gop AND

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE TO DO WITH ONE ANOTHER
se er eo

THEY MEET AT A PLACE CALLED A MERCY auger
cE al
Sey aged ;
SEAT,| NOT A JUDGMENT SEAT, BUT A MERCY
‘+ Powis F
SEAT. AND, FURTHERMORE, WHEN HUMAN oe, ut

———

BEINGS ENCOUNTER THE ONE WITH WHOM EACH

OF US HAS ULTIMATELY TO 20) IT ISA
wee b= att:

MOMENT NOT OF JUDGMENT AND TERROR, AS

RELIGION ALL TOO OFTEN CHARACTERIZES IT,

BUT GRACE, FORGIVENESS, AND REUNION.
"Ir you, 0 Lorp, SHOULD MARK
INIOUITIES, LORD WHO COULD STAND?
BUT THERE IS FORGIVENESS WITH YOU.”

Pe alu *

[Psatm 130:3,4]

,taq

‘oO

"I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY AND
REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO wore." )

CJEREMIAH 31:34B]

¢. eft. 3B ve < reed» dnl. siya 4

IT IS SO GOOD, WE aces BELIEVE IT.

THE HISTORY OF OUR RELIGION IS THE STORY

OF PEOPLE TRYING TO ATTACH CONDITIONS TO

be ened z
Gop'S GRACE, | CREATING RULES AND
ieiiieneen]

ecucatzons@ restarcrroNs| ro KEEP PEOPLE
ewes rp

OUT, | PURITY AND ORTHODOXY BARRIERS TO

ASSURE THAT ¢ ONLY THE | GOOD AND PURE MAKE

Fran aag GR er cent

| ii enema “ D, "AND YOU
mr a ethers ts ng th

IT IS THE INTENT OF GOD THAT WE NOT

BE SEPARATED, ALIENATED FROM GOD 7 OR
oe

Sn ea ae ah eal

FROM ONE anotuer | THERE IS ONLY ONE
Sateen: seed Mien

CONDITION ATTACHED TO GOD'S FORGIVENESS

AND THAT IS YOUR FORGIVENESS
tn nial

~ THAT'S THE DYNAMIC THAT INTERESTS
THE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THEOLOGIANS WHEN

ere

THEY GET roseTHeR,| IN AN ARTICLE IN THE
is

JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY AND THEOLOGY, "THE

ROLE AND FUNCTION OF FORGIVENESS IN THE
PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC process,")DR. JARED
Bincieton OBSERVES THAT T4%S IS A
ao

SURPRISING DEARTH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL

LITERATURE ON THE ropse: | THAT

FORGIVENESS IS AN IDENTIFIABLE PROCESS - 4, Skule Se

tied

~ NOTICE, NOT AN EASY ONE TIME EVENT,

AND THAT IT TS AN ANSWER TO THE MOS

ar A ep thera 7

PAINFUL TRAUMA HUMAN BEINGS SUFFER,

NAMELY THE BREAKING OF THEIR MOST

IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS.

~ erat ee |

favehl fir

WL ph me

"FORGIVENESS, " Dr. SPINGLETON SAYS,

"+5 SIMPLY GIVING UP ONE'S RIGHT TO HURT
BACK." ) IT INVOLVES ACKNOWLEDGING THE

WRONG DONE AND THE PAIN EXPERIENCED, [rv

Mh Me

LOSS OF SELF-ESTEEM,| AND THEN THE

———— ee

INTENTIONAL REVERSAL OF THE NATURAL

were ETE

INCLINATION TO STRIKE BACK. | txs IS NOT

EASY. {IT 1S VERY HARD WORK. | But IT CAN
nied ‘ MER te et ee ee.
BE DONE.
Fe
Two PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT AND

Ws eee

WRITTEN ABOUT IT ARE POPULAR AUTHORS,

ae. en,

HuGH PRATHER AND GAYLE PRATHER. (THEY

ARE MARRIED AND, IN A REMARKABLE LITTLE

rr . ies

DIARY, NOTES TO EACH OTHER, THEY REFLECT
em,

ON THEIR expenrence, [rwcLupzns BETRAYAL

‘or

AND INFIDELITY \ WHICH OFTEN PRESENTS THE

ONE EVENT MANY PEOPLE CANNOT WORK

tere et Rr ee et

THROUGH OR AROUND, | LET ALONE FORGIVE.

/ "THERE ARE VERY FEW MISTAKES THAT

ARE HUMANLY POSSIBLE FOR A COUPLE

TO MAKE THAT WE HAVE NOT MADE,"

THEY WRITE. »

AND THEN THIS REMARKABLE ENTRY:

¢ “WE HAVE INCLUDED OUR PERSONAL

a STRUGGLES IN THIS AREA AS AN AID TO
THOSE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR
DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN
SO MANY COUPLES THROW THEIR HANDS
UP OVER LESS PROTRACTED INCIDENCE

OF BETRAYAL THAN OURS.”

WITH COMPLETE CANDOR THEY DISCUSS

HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE

ee i,

i ams:

IT FEELS LIKE GIVING INTO ANOTHER

—— oo

PERSON, /GIVING_SOMETHING away. || Auwost

AS DIFFICULT AS LETTING GO OF THE NEED

See ere

TO SEE THE omen as curt | (* MUST
REMAIN LIVING PROOF OF WHAT YOU HAVE
pone. | J MUST CHERISH THE DAMAGE YOU
HAVE CAUSED ME AND HOLD TIGHTLY TO IT -~
FOR HOW ELSE WILL THE WORLD STAY
REMINDED OF YOUR SIN."

THE PRATHERS SUGGEST A TOUCHING

, eh ie ao id

DEVLCE_FQR HELP WITH THE HARD WORK OF

FORGIVENESS. | KEEP A PICTURE IN YOUR
WALLET OR AN IMAGINARY PICTURE IN YOUR

MIND OF THE PERSON YOU WANT TO FORGIVE

-- AS A CHILD, AS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD, OR
ELGHT, OR TEN, A PICTURE oF THE TIME

ees: Se

WHEN SHE OR HE WAS _annocenr) A REMINDER

mee
peer

OF THE DEEP CORE OF INNOCENCE INSIDE

THE PRATHERS ARE STILL TOGETHER AND
eens

renee

ARE DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WILL PREVENT

irre

THEM FROM STAYING TOGETHER.\| THEY WRITE,
eoerrren

"THERE IS NO MORE POWERFUL, FAR-
REACHING, OR EFFICIENT MEANS OF
HEALING THAN FORGIVENESS, AND YET
THE CONCEPT 1S GENERALLY
MISUNDERSTOOD. FORGIVENESS IS NOT
A POSTURE OF SUPERIORITY OR THE
DECISION TO BEHAVE IN CERTAIN

"FORGIVING WAYS.’ FORGIVENESS DOES

NOT CONDONE THE PAST NOR DOES IT

COMMIT ONE’S SELF TO THE FUTURE.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RELEASING
INMATES FROM THE PENITENTIARY OR
SOCIALIZING WITH ONE’S EX-SPOUSE.
FORGIVENESS OCCURS IN THE PRESENT
ONLY. IT IS MY WELLINGNESS TO
CHANGE MY MIND FROM A THING THAT
TORTURES ME INTO A PRESENCE THAT
COMFORTS AND BEFRIENDS ME. AGAIN
AND AGAIN, I MUST PULL MY THOUGHTS
AWAY FROM THE CONTEMPLATION OF MY
GUILT OR YOURS, BACK TO THE DEEP
CORE OF INNOCENCE THAT SHINES
WITHIN YOU...AND THIS IS AN EFFORT
THAT MUST BE REPEATED INFINITELY

UNTIL THE SOUL IS HEALED."

o>
yet “\

e py
IT ISA POSSIBILITY FOR ALL OF US, ¥ yor? \

ove -
REGARDLESS OF HOW WE HAVE OFFENDED OR a\e yw,
ie
BEEN OFFENDED FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT ‘oul

WE LIVE WITHIN THE STEADFAST Love/ THE
Pd ;

KINDNESS AND FORGIVENESS OF THE ONE WHO
irre res arm
MADE US.
tte

IT IS STUNNING WHEN IT HAPPENS.

JOSEPH CARDINAL BERNADIN, WHO WAS _— actysed 4

fruur sill ~

DEALT WHAT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN A

FATAL BLOW TO HIS VOCATION AND SERVICE A
TO THE CHURCH HE Loves) FORGAVE HIS I yt 4 pv blee Fy
ACCUSER, VISITED HIM, TALKED WITH AND & wa

Wau d -
eo worsen —— s aut

ELQQUENT EXAMPLES OF THE NEW REALITY
Tyr uf
JESUS PROCLAIMED THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.

IT REMINDED ME OF AN INCIDENT THAT
Liat eed

PRAYED WITH HIM. | IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST

HAPPENED A DECADE AGO AND PERHAPS THIS

Chih

22 7

IS AN EXAMPLE THAT INSPIRED CARDINAL

BeRyADIN. “ wit pA Tr ao

Pope JoHN PAUL VISITED HIS WOULD-BE
niin erro T 7

ASSASSIN IN PRISON) TALKED WITH AND
PUBLICLY FORGAVE THE MAN WHO HAD SHOT
HIM. |

THAT INCIDENT MADE THE COVER OF

TIME AND A FEATURE WHICH I HAVE SAVED ~

WHICH OBSERVED:
C “THE CASE FOR FORGIVENESS IS
OVERWHELMINGLY PERSUASIVE. | NOT TO

—

FORGIVE IS TO BE IMPRISONED IN THE PAST
ee i

BY OLD GRIEVANCES THAT DO NOT PERMIT

LIFE TO PROCEED WITH NEW BUSINESS. | NoT

TO FORGIVE IS TO YIELD ONE'S SELF TO

ANOTHER’S conrRoL..| IF ONE DOES NOT
NED

FORGIVE, THEN ONE IS CONTROLLED BY THE

nt +8

“Te ¢
OTHER’S INITIATIVES AND IS LOCKED INTO A jw (ot
(de,
SEQUENCE OF ACT }€ RESPONSE, OF OUTRAGE Sy +4

AND REVENGE, ESCALATING ALWAYS. THE AN. loss “ptt

PRESENT IS ENDLESSLY OVERWHELMED AND
~—.. =

DEVOURED BY THE past. \ FORGIVENESS FREES

ve fo) alll
YOU ARE INVITED TO OPEN Y@UR"HEART *

AND SOUL TO A FORGIVENESS THAT HAS
tenia)

gus
ALREADY BEEN GIVEN. | IT IS YOURS FOR THE

TT BECOMES YOURS AS YOU

wer rete ee

ASKING.

ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND SING DOXOLOGIES TO
a,

Gop BECAUSE OF IT. \ IT IS YOURS AS YOUR

LT Tg ee a |

FORGIVENESS, \ALREADY GIVEN BY A KIND AND

MERCIFUL GoD, \BEGINS TO WORK IN YOUR

LIFE TO MAKE YOU MORE LOVING, Jano

MERCIFUL, AND FORGIVING.

owen MAREE ETNg

THAT IS THE BLESSED PROMISE.

ForGrve’ AND” you WILL “BE FORGIVEN.

THANKS BE LO Gob. .

AMEN.

rt \S Ga wen. banSur 4 aut ms
Crp licr a Ly pre .

“yt Us alse

eri

That ow AL Volesse # pie

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John M. Buchanan

forgiveness